Nana shivers as pain shoots through her body. She’s tired—tired of dealing with Marco’s abuse—but what can she do? He’s her mate, the Alpha of the pack. She’s weak and even worse, she’s the daughter of the man who betrayed the pack.“Get up and crawl out of my room,” Marco groans in his harsh Alpha voice.He hasn’t accepted her as his mate, but he hasn’t rejected her either. Being stuck in between is worse than either choice. The pain makes her heart feel like it’s being ripped out of her chest. Nana coughs as she tries to get off the bed, blood spilling from her mouth.“Don’t let a drop of that get on my bed or in this room!” Marco yells, kicking her off the bed. The force sends her crashing into the wall on the other side of the room.She whimpers in pain. “Marco, please... just let me go. If you don’t want me, why are you doing this?” She tries to get up, but every action makes her back hurt even more. Her voice breaks.“Let you go? That’s way too easy, Nana. You have to pay for yo
With a throb in her body, Nana gently stands up. Even though the pain is nearly unbearable, she is sure that she heard a boy's faint, agonized voice.Despite her anxiety, curiosity pushes her ahead as she limps farther into the cave. The tunnel grows darker as she continues, and her heart begins to thump hard in her chest. Every breath feels heavy, and the moans continue, soft and broken like the boy is in pain.She comes to a sloped area, and just as she tries to step back, she loses her balance. She slips, sliding down through darkness; even with such an impact, she can’t stop herself until she hits something solid. The impact knocks her breath out of the lungs and pain staggers through her body.Suddenly, Nana hears the groans again but they are much louder this time. Struggling to concentrate, Nana blinks her eyes as she tries to see in the dark. Her powers may be weak but she manages to discern a shadowy figure that has red glowing eyes.It’s in the shape of a human but with t
The smell of dust mixed with rust, leather, and purple hyacinth fills Nana's nose as she feels the creature getting closer. Her body tenses with fear, knowing that death is near. The scent is sweet and strange, but she quickly pushes the thought aside. This isn’t the time to focus on smells; she’s about to die—killed by some strange-looking monster.The creature starts sniffing her neck from behind, its breath hot against her skin. Nana's whole body shivers, and fear grips her heart. Her mind races with terrifying images—would it rip out her veins? The thought makes her tremble uncontrollably. Her teeth grind together as she closes her eyes tightly, readying herself for the last moments.A stinging agony shoots further into her flesh, like a needle piercing her neck. The sensation of her blood being drained is familiar now, but then something strange happens. The pain fades, replaced by an overwhelming, sensual feeling. Pleasure ripples through her veins, down to her most sensitive
"Alpha, you have to calm down," Stephen says, his voice steady but urgent as he tries to calm his friend."Calm down?" Marco roars, his eyes flashing with fury. "That damn beast has woken up after 25 years, and you expect me to calm down? I should’ve killed him when I had the chance. Why did my father even leave him alive?" He throws his hands in the air before planting them firmly on his waist, pacing angrily."You know we can't fully eradicate the Lycanthrope bloodline, no matter how much we hate them," Stephen responds calmly. "Your father made the right decision. It's tradition. It's in our blood.""And now I'm the one paying for his ‘right decision,’" Marco snaps back, his frustration boiling over. "Did you see how strong that thing is? He's way stronger than my uncle ever was." The thought of it sends a chill down his spine. He could have died tonight if Stephen hadn’t intervened when he did.Marco’s face twists with anger. "All because of that bitch," he mutters under his b
Nana manages to drag herself from the bed, completely drained from the pain and tears. Her entire body aches, sore and weak. Her eyes are swollen, her skin torn from the chains. Every breath feels like a struggle.She knows she needs to wash up. Though she is experiencing the worst pain that could ever be imaginable, all she looks forward to is a warm water bath.Finally, she gets up, hobbles to the bathroom, and remains standing under the shower as water slowly washes over the many bruises on her body. Lack of strength makes her simply splash water on her face and lean against the wall. The slightest of movements brings severe shooting pains throughout her entire body.Her hands are slow, as she washes the stains of blood that were from the previous night. The signs of the cuts and lashes are distinctly visible, and even the gentlest touch makes her wince. Each wound feels as if the pain is imprinted on her skin, and is a constant reminder of the torture she has had to go through.
There’s been nothing but tension in the pack with the Lycan Prince lurking somewhere deep in the forest, or possibly even within the pack house. Marco and his men have no idea where to search, but they know Lowell is somewhere around. “Stephen, this… this isn’t funny anymore! What are you doing? It’s been days, and Lowell is still somewhere in my pack. We have no way to draw him out,” Marco panics, stomping into the training ground with Stephen following behind. “I understand your worries, Alpha, but you would have sensed him if he were close. His father's blood in your system will give you a signal,” Stephen replies. Marco clenches his fists, recalling that night. It’s true, the Lycan blood can sense their own if they’re close by. That night, I felt something—a vibration through my body. Excitement? Worry? I couldn’t tell. But I followed my instinct, only to find Lowell killing my men. His men are restless. Marco can see the tension in their eyes, their fear unmistakable. They kno
“Please, Marco, I don’t—” Nana stammers, her voice shaky. Fear tightens around her chest, her body trembling with the memories of past punishments.Marco’s sharp gaze flicks over to her, cutting off her words. “What the hell is that smell?” he suddenly blurts out, wrinkling his nose in disgust.Nana freezes, her mind racing. The mark? No, it can’t be that. He hasn’t seen it yet. But the smell? What is he talking about?“I—I don’t know what you mean,” she stutters, panic rising. “I took a shower before coming here... I always do.” She tries to defend herself, her voice barely a whisper.Marco steps off the bed, his face contorting with irritation. Without losing any time, he marches towards his drawer and pulls out a cologne. Out of nowhere, he sprays it all over in the air around them, as he moves his hand before his nose as if he is trying to make some bad odor away from him.Nana stares, confused, feeling her heart racing. "Is it really that bad?" she asks, her tone low and painful.
"Alpha, we have a problem," Stephen says, bursting into Marco’s room, the urgency in his voice obvious.Marco looks up sharply, wondering why Stephen is so worked up, breathing like he’s been running."What kind of problem?" His voice is tense, already irritated. "This better be worth interrupting me for, Stephen."“There was… a trace of the prince in the area last night,” Stephen blurts out, barely catching his breath. He watches Marco carefully, knowing the weight of his words.Marco’s eyes widen as he springs up from his seat. “What the hell? Where?” he says, voice sharp and demanding. "Is anyone hurt?”Stephen hesitates, clearly picking his words carefully. “No injuries… at least none we’ve heard about yet.” He shifts his weight, and the room feels tighter because of the tension.Marco frowns, growing impatient. “What do you mean, ‘none that we’ve heard about yet’? Either someone’s hurt, or they’re not.” He folds his arms, watching Stephen closely.“Well, it’s just…” Stephen stamm
Nana walks towards the door, frantic. Unable to deal with the rising panic, she can feel the stickiness of her clothes on her skin, water dripping out after Marco had thrown her into the shower, fully dressed and cold. She was just waking from the shock from the cold water when a loud ear-piercing sound vibrated in the room, and she darted out of the bathroom.She surveys everything rapidly before she locates a familiar towering figure within the darkness of the room. Although the light passing through can be deemed as dim, she easily spots him. Her heart races within her chest as she tries to take her mate- Lowell in.And a sharp gasp escapes from her lips.Marco lies in front of him, the ground covered in blood from hitting his head, his body vibrating. The smell of blood intensified but Nana paid it no attention. Every chance Nana gets it is directly aimed at Lowell since he is exuding unimaginable amounts of anger. His red eyes light in the dark, crisp and challenging.“Mate,” Low
The smell is like a kick to Marco’s stomach. Not hers. As anger surges through his body, his fingers tighten at his sides, the nails pressing into his palms. The difficulty is that he doesn’t have that fragrance. The fucking issue is that. Nana moves on the bed, her skin drenched in perspiration and her breath labored. She appears to be entirely destroyed by the heat. Marco, however, is unconcerned. He is unable to. She smells like another man, so no. He stands above her, his jaw clenched. “You were touched by who the hell?” His tone makes her wince, and she blinks up at him with glassy eyes. “I—” He’d rather not hear it. It doesn’t really matter what reason she has or what nonsense justification she is going to give. His wolf has already clawing at the surface, demanding blood, demanding that he rip apart whoever dared to leave their scent on her.But there’s something else beneath the fury.Something raw.Something that makes his throat tighten.Marco’s teeth clench
Marco perceives a very sweet scent, something so intoxicating it sends heat straight to his loins. His skin prickles, his muscles tense, and his pulse hammers like a war drum.Melissa is curled up beside him, her breath warm against his chest, but this—this fire coursing through his veins—isn’t from her. No, this scent, this unbearable pull, is from someone else."Nana..." he mutters, his eyes snapping open."What the fuck?" He hasn’t felt this connection in a long time. It’s supposed to be gone. The bond has faded, hasn’t it? Then why can he smell her now? Why can he feel her need clawing at his insides like a goddamn beast?He squeezes his eyes shut, his jaw clenching. He doesn’t want this. Doesn’t want to feel like this for someone who isn’t his anymore. But his cock is already betraying him, hardening at the mere thought of her. He swallows, running a rough hand through his hair.“Fuck it,” he growls, throwing the blanket off. His body is already moving before his brain catches up
Lowell’s breath comes in ragged gasps as he stumbles away from the last group of Marco’s warriors. His body aches, bruises and scratches covering him, but he’s still alive. Barely. The fever clings to his skin, sweat dripping down his back, making it hard to see straight, but the pain in his side is the least of his concerns right now.He pushes himself forward, leaning against a tree for support. The world around him spins, the smell of blood thick in the air. His own blood, mixed with the stench of the forest. He feels the weight of every injury, but there’s something stronger pulling him forward.Nana. That pull is still there, sharp and insistent. The bond between them feels like a chain around his chest, pulling him towards her even though every instinct screams at him to turn the hell around and run far away. “Fuck, what the hell am I supposed to do?”He forces himself to move, taking a step, then another. Each one feels like eternity, his mind racing, thoughts tangled in a me
Through the woods Lowell stumbles, breath ragged as the fever claws at his skin, but now it’s the scent that pulls him forward. It hits him like a freight train, sharp and intoxicating. Nana. Her scent: etched into the air, wrapping around him, drawing him in, pulling him onward with a strength he cannot fight against. Fuck it, it can’t be ignored anymore. It’s like the bond that suffocates him. Ever since leaving, it’s been tugging and pulling away, but this… this is different. He stops for a moment and puts a hand on a nearby tree to steady himself. The trees sway with the feeling, and the ache in his chest is unbearable. He’s got to get to her.Taking in a breath, he pushes upright, ignoring the tremors in his legs and the dizziness that feels like it will take him under any second. He can’t afford to stop. Not now. Not when she needs him. Out there, she must be feeling everything—his pain, his desperation—and it burns worse than any wound ever could.The agony in Lowell’s body
Lowell leans against the tree, wiping sweat off his brow. His entire body burns with heat and pain emanating from within; his muscles ache as though they have been at war for days. At intervals, fever descends and leaves him weak and lightheaded. He grits his teeth against the agony, determined that he will not let his body betray him any longer."For three fucking days," he mutters, dragging his palm down his face. His claws have extended into the line of an uncomfortable scratch on his skin, and he does not really care. The beast stirs restlessly within him, back and forth pacing, snarling, commanding that its will be done. Nana now seems even more strongly connected to him, like an iron chain tightening across his chest. She is in pain, he knows; he can feel it, the faint laceration of her pain reverberating through him.He kicks at a rock, sending it skidded across the forest floor. "Damn it, Nana," he growls in a low, rasping tone. He doesn't even know now if he's mad at her or m
Lowell prowls through the dense forest, his sharp claws digging into the damp soil with every step. His senses are on edge, his entire body taut with a restless energy he can’t shake. For three days, the sweet, maddening scent has clung to him like a second skin, invading every thought, every breath. It’s Nana—her heat—reaching him through their bond, pulling at his primal instincts like a fucking leash.“Fuck,” he growls, slamming his fist into a tree trunk. The bark shatters under the impact, scattering shards of wood everywhere. He’s losing it. The beast inside him claws at his control, demanding he follow the scent, find her, claim her.But he can’t.“She told you to stay the fuck away,” he mutters to himself, pacing like a caged animal. “You’re not gonna ruin her life more than it already is.”His nose twitches, catching the faintest trace of her again. It’s faint but enough to stir a fire deep in his gut. Lowell growls low in his throat, shaking his head like it’ll help him bloc
The air in the woods feels thicker tonight. Lowell moves cautiously, keeping his footsteps silent against the crunch of dried leaves. Every sound seems louder, every shadow a threat. He’s too familiar with this game of cat and mouse, and Marco never plays fair.But then it hits him.A scent. Soft at first, like a whisper in the breeze. But it grows stronger, weaving through the air like an invisible thread, wrapping around him, pulling him in.“What the hell…” Lowell stops dead, his chest tightening.It’s her. Nana.He knows it instantly, the scent as unmistakable as her voice. Sweet, warm, with that subtle hint of wildness he’s always associated with her. But there’s something different now, something more… potent.And then it clicks.Heat.“Fuck,” Lowell mutters, his fists clenching. His body reacts before his mind can catch up, a surge of raw, primal need coursing through him. His heart races, his blood feels like fire in his veins. He knows he should move, should keep going, but h
Lowell’s footsteps crunch against the dry leaves, every sound amplified by the oppressive silence of the woods. He moves carefully, his ears straining for any hint of pursuit. Marco’s men aren’t far—he can hear the faint voices and the occasional bark of orders. He doesn’t dare stop.Nana’s last words echo in his head like a haunting melody: “Run, Lowell. Don’t look back. Find peace.”Peace? He thinks bitterly. There’s no peace for a man like him. Not now, not when everything feels so fucking wrong, well he’s life has been a mess since the betrayal of his uncle.The clothes Nana gave him scratch against his skin. They don’t fit right—too loose in some places, too tight in others—but he’s grateful for them. They’re the only thing keeping him from being recognized outright. His Lycan form would give him away in a heartbeat, and even in his human form, Marco and Stephen know his face. He tugs the hood lower over his eyes, cursing under his breath.“Damn it, Nana,” he mutters. “Why’d you